I’ll stay there until his ‘party’ gets here, and then I’m going to have a good-ass time. I snag one of the little boogie boards he tossed to the ground, step as far in as I can, but close enough to still get some momentum to push off with my feet, my stomach flat on the floating device, and paddle my way across while hoping I won’t fall off and drown. “I’m boring and your entertainment is on its way.” “What do you care what I’m doing, Playboy?” I don’t look back, eyeing the small sandbar that’s maybe thirty feet across the water. I shimmy my shorts down and hang my clothes over a nearby tree branch to dry before stepping into the water. “What are you doing?” His question is delivered with a sharp edge. But once my face is covered, I spin, facing away from him. They cut back and forth between my eyes and my shirt as I lift it over my head. His brows snap to the center, his gaze narrowing and falling to my hands when they meet the hem of my shirt. I’ve allowed too many people to do that for too long. I smile, and it’s not even fake because, again, screw him. Unpredictable with diehard mood swings-you have to hope he’s warm on the inside when he’s warm on the out. That’s how it goes, so I guess I was supposed to expect this. He’s angry, I make a joke, he laughs, and then he leaves. He laughs, I laugh, he gets pissed off and leaves. I don’t hate being around him, even if maybe I should, since all of our interactions are pretty much the same and on repeat. I’m sure I would have later, but I hadn’t yet. But truth be told, I hadn’t even paused enough to break down our little trip out here, I was too busy appreciating the scenery, and, yeah, enjoying his company. I nod, forcing myself to hold his intense, hardened gaze.Īs if I was sitting back thinking he was sharing some piece of his soul with me by bringing me here. Ain’t nothin’ special or sacred about it anymore.” This place served its purpose when we were young.

“You think I’d bring you somewhere I was saving for myself, to a sacred place I wanted to hide from the world?” Another foul laugh. His tone, it’s vile, as is the look in his eyes when he flicks them over me. His raucous laugh stings when I wish it wouldn’t, his hand coming up to rest against his ribs even, but it’s all for show.

Do you really want to bring people here?” “You said this is where you come to avoid being seen, your own little hideaway. I brush through my hair with my fingers and tousle it over so it’s not stuck flat to my head and ensuring my scalp is covered.

I don’t look his way, but notice with my every foot forward, he shifts in the opposite direction. I rise, make my way over to the flat land, and step from the water.

Break Me by Meagan Brandy